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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-04-12, Page 5• • )art THE 1,10110*,, EXPOSITOR APRIL s are eavtng t amily Paradise AUCE OMB The next time Ruth and It Mott' .visit the Parrtily Paradisecampground be paying at the gate, instead Of taking at the gate.” After le years of operating. one. PT Huron County's first private reereatiOnal areas. the Motts have sold the business and will be moving back tp their osiginal home in, Chatham. The campground's new owners, ,..1.ohn. and Judy George, have already taken up residence in their tg* `home And are enthusiasticabout future plans for the recreation site. In 1968, Mott, tired of his. salesman's job. in Chatham, learned that over 100 acres of "swampland" was for sale in Huron County. , Since the mercury scare had made land Meng Lake Erie a poor investment for recreational uses, Mr. Mott decided to buy an inland site. 'Fred Glanville, owner of the land, had intended. to, turn the property into a campground but had onlyPne trailer on the site. The public went out to the site for picnics and Mr. Glanville trusted them to drop the *admission fee into a box. LAO After the Motts bought -Family Paradise, their first chore was to create the lake which now covers seven acres on the site. Bill Mott said three bulldozers came in and duglor 21 days. When, the lake was large enough, the digging stopped and under- ground springs soon filled the cavity. Sand was trucked into give' the lake a sandy bottom and beach. Although. Bill' Mott could , see the potential for the site, ,he admits today that: many of the neighbouring farmers thought I had rocks in my head." The lake has proved to be one of the more popular attractions of Fondly • Paradise over the, years - no. Matter what the wind conditions, it's never too rough or cold for adip, unlike neighbouring Lake Huron. _ Over. the years, the Motts gradually „ 144 $141,1 developed the site. They built shower rooms, cleared campsites and eventually purchased the old Church in Slabtown. The church cost the Mons, the sum total of $50. but the moving, fees. to bring it from Slabtown 'to their campgrOond Cast op - proximately 51200. The first camper to. stay 'at Family Paradise was Gordon McGavin With Keith McLean of Seaforth another early visitor. The first dance was held on New Year's Eve, 1971 and Bill Mott recalls "the carpenters were carrying their tools out and the orchestra their instruments in"t • the renovation schedule was so tight. • DANCES Over theyears, the dance hall abs 'been' one of the more important aspects of Family ParadiSe anit in an interview /-97, Mr-. Mott said, "If it wasn't for the dattet half we wouldn't have been able to survive." In addition to the regular weekly dances the Motts.have also donated the hall and proceeds from the evening for a number of community benefit dances over the years. On Halloween, they hold a special dance and a dinner on New Years Day which gives campers a chanceto return for a reunion in the off-season. Although the Motts plan to keep in toueh. with the community after they return to, their home in Chatham, Bill Mott admits the campground has tied them' down partly because it's one of the only year-round campgrounds which is open foc winter activities, such as snovVrnobiling, etc. As Mr. Mott said in the earlier• interview, there were times,when he got up on Friday morning and didn't get back to bed _until, Sunday night. Not surprisingly", the" irst thing. the Motts plan is a. two Month holiday, before making any plans about their future.' H ' . , NEW OWNERS Jelin and Judy George, the young couple who. have bought Family, Paradise, have, alreadyek—perieneed-the challenge of being their own bosses. For five years the couple ,A,"0660frottt. TURNING! OVER THE KEYS-,iudy and John George, formerly of Waterloo, now the new owners of the Family Paradise campground, accept the camp keys froM former owner Bill Mott', Mr. Mott and his wife Ruth will be moving back to their home in Chatham later this month, . , (Expositor photo) operated, a variety store in Waterloci •- and:, people who want to swim or picnic. some of their customers were Family , PADDLE BOATS John" George has already puchased paddle beats and canoes for the lake, and will start a "paint up job" on buildings as soon as, the weather improves.. Mr. George said he would like to go back to the' idea of outdoor Sunday concerts, started by the Motts, arid hopes In introduce crois-country skiing trails, in the winter. Mrs. George, who SUperviSed a day care center in. Waterloo, Is planning an , adventure playground for younger children which will also be. added to the camp- ground, , The Georges also hope to attract more campers to' the site - after ail, John George said there is "an untapped market" in urban centres like' Kitchener, London and Stratford whieh are the hour's drive away, Be said the campground' will also be available for overnight, campers which Many private recreational centres no longer serve. Family Paradise has, already proved in, the past that there is_ a place for inland recreational • area in Huron •County. Paradise campers. Mr. George said one thing that attracted' hint about the local operation was the chance to be his own boss again - it's hard after you've been. in business to work for someone else," Although the Georges only saw the campground in winter before purchasing, it, they felt the potential was evident. The couple had, beefy looking around for a campground operation for some time, • since today' "people want' resorts on wheels", John, George said, The major attraction of the Family Paraciiie camp- ground was its size and the fact there is room for further, development. The Georges said they looked at a number of 25,, acre campgrounds but found the working • space on these was totally' developed, leaving no place to go from there. • The Georges hope to carry on many of the traditionsnf Family Paradise started by Ruth and Bill. Mott. The. dances. Will. continue, as well as, the Family Paradise Snowmobile Club.' :and day passes for • • • • ' • ,,MS,VRANWMOrt48 Mrs, Porothy Murray was,the hotfooted gUest"at a surpriwhirthday party given in her honour ntt Sunday. Cioests were her husband. all her brothers and siterS, with the exception of OM sistor, and her children and, grandchildren. A total. .0 nearly 40 people gathere4 to honour her in the dining room of the *AO in, Monitton. After A delicieott dinner Dorothy was presented with a beautiful remembrance gift. Mr,and Mrs. Tommy Murray and Mr. and Mrs. Fran* teirurray balm returee4 from a trip to, h. Coa,.st. They report heatitif4 weather all the way. Tho• sympathy of- the • community is extended to the Theo Van Bakel family in the loss of his father in 1101110,, _ • . DON MACRAE . Maloney • and, Mike Last Thursday the Dublin and District 0 iamorids enjoyed an afternoon euchre ` party at St. Patriek's School Gym, The prize winners were Ladies High Mrs. Gib • Murray, Men's 'High Clem Krauskopf. The low prizes were, won by :Ars, Pete Discus, javelin: Peeth Count omens ano javelin will continue to be used in Perth County high SChoOls- In a recommendation passed at the board of ,Melaughlin. The Price sisters, Lucille, Maureen and Karen, daughters of Mr. and Chas Price, Stratford, entertained the crowd with several stepdance num hers, Lucille alSo gave her school speech, "The. Dublin Centennial 1978". to, cOntinue y shOois —education meeting April 3 the board approved use of the two pieces of equipment for use in Grades 9 through 13. Visitors with Mrs.Millie Evans last weekend, were ' Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cleary and Kevin of London. Visitors with Mrs. Jean Dill: were Mr, JackFrost of SauLdTI.,hiMITIactnn C ayjooafKi:c4arteY rdnine Winners on last Wednesday nights's Dublin and Mitchell District Lions TV Home Bingo Channel 12 , were Darlene Noble, Mitchell, ' : .Ferg McKseliarge:feoaibh it, MeIvin Dale. rt Harvey Elliett.Helen Anne Elliott, Dublin,. Warren fiennewies, Dublin, Eva: Hansen, Mitchell. iinton school 'too small, parents tell HPRCSS boar BY WILMA OKE The. Huron -Perth County -Roman Catholic. Separate School 'Board was asked by three members of the ICatholie —Rarent.,.,. Teacher, * Association St:Joseph's %School in Clinton to, provide additional spate at the school to meet the needs of 110 students, enrolled there' this year. Mrs. Carole Kerrigan, vice president of C.P.T.A. at St. Joseph's read' a brief out: lining why,. the addition is needed. Others attending with her were the president, ' Seamus Doherty of Clinton and member. Marris Bos of II.R.2. Seaforth, and the school principal Donald Far- well a The C,P.T.A. wants two additional portable class- rooms setup to prOyide the addition. The school now consists of three classrooms, a staff room and principal's office, as well as two portabte - classrooms. There is no base- ment in the school. ' Mrs.' Kerrigan said under board direction there is a higher standard of educaticin in the school and a: large number of Catholic students have been attracted into the school from the public School 'System. , • Mrs. Kerrigan read, "As interested parents, we feel that unless we can continue to grow phYsically, as well as 'academically, we cannot Maintain the standards Of education that have been achieved at St. Joseph's over the years. We therefore, cannot continue to increase our enrolment and further the, goals of Catholic education for future .students.. . The school, 'community is trying to meet the needs of the children, but, our limited space makes this increasingly difficult." Mrs, Kerrigan pointed out that the problem' was not with the number of students as they fitted into the school nicely but with the small groups such as the French classes, the music and special education class- rooms. . • She pointed out that Grades 6, 7 and 8 French ,classses are had to be held in the hall. The library is' located in the hallway, and it is used to view video tap ed programs. She described the number of classes that move around such as the spelling 'classes which are held every day and rotate from the hall to the Kindergarten room to the office; special math classes areheld either in. the kitchen or in the hallway when the kitchen is full; the Health Nurse works in the classrocim or in the hallway or staff. room; 'Mass is in the hall or in the kindergarten room; for Music classes' the piano gets pushed from one room to the other and sometimes this class is held in the hall. She pointed out that all the classes in the, hall or ”in the kitchen Or in the office have no provisions for black-, Looking for Something Special for Easter, a Birthday or Graduation? Lane' cedar Chests by keidttlilin maple, pine, oak. exteriors ilet gift that starts a WM* and lasts a ilfatimc Our low overhead assures you of better than average, low pritetd. cub Fine FUrnittite • MAIN stottEr, 345-2250 , OWE DiittLIN 4nd *AVE bOards. She said the. black boardis propped on top of the drinking' fountain in the hall. She said the hall is Constantly congested with „tables and , chairs ,blocking exits and. washroom. door- ways' and the traffic to the washrooms and ' the, staff room, as welt as -to the library continually interrupt 'these . classes. Among other problems she pointed out there is no 'room for parept interviews in the office and sometimes they are held in' the hall and the Speech therapist has to use the kindergarten and then the spelling class has to moved' elsewhere. There is.. no couchfor a sick: child in kitchen. Mrs.. Kerrigan explained her group was askingfor the portables in. case no grants were available front the Ministery of Education 'to build a permanent addition to solve the problems at the school. In the question and answer. period Trustee4Michael-Con- nolly asked, if some students could be bused to another school, suggesting the kind- ergarten students being located in Seaforth. To, this Mrs.' Kerrigan replied that 15 were expected in the kindergarten, class this year and "if we move them to Seaforth I. think wg.would lose' them". Principal'. Don FarWell said he would 'object very strongly to transporting students to Seaforth. He said there was a feeling of uneasiness in the school, cOmmunity. He said it is a. family school, the , students . . . have a feeling of achievement, not defeat. He gave credit to the teachers who are of a high calibre, and as a result the children coming out 'of St, Joseph's are better than other students, hp sad. Seamus Doherty stated that. "We are here tonight to let you know the' situation and our feelings," Mr. tioherty said is a high school teacher he can vouch f won't, understandhow for the fact that the, students from St. Joseph's do well when they reach high school level. Mrs. Kerrigan concluded, "Unless you read the copy of the brief over carefully you constrieted we are. For anyone Who believes in Catholic, education as we do, it is important to keep school just sH vrive, ARp I‘Aodei R -6180C We have been able, to obtain if further supply of this superior model at a' price which is' much below the usual sale price. FEATURINdi' 'The farnotis 'CaroUS.el Turntable,' • 6A variable Cooking ContrOl ' ; •A choice of Temperature Probe.Cooking or regular timed • • cooking •A clock With automatic start ' •A large capacity interier. with easy t�. clean stainless steel liner . • 4A Rotary Recipe Guide 6A large microwave cookbook. .Plugs into regular Wail recept.ielp, A free microwave cOoking ciess by a professional is' flow' being organized for those who. have purchased a Sharp Microwave Oven. Seaforth . • ' 6271420 • WAR* -•• • ••- ••••.- where it is. These are our concerns as we see:it." Mary Flannery and Jim McDade will 'continue with their present roles and responsibilities in the area of special education , and curriculum - development respectively for 'the school year 1979-80. Mileage for board and • staff was set at 20 cents retroactive .• to January I, 1979 until the end of August 1979, when it will be 22 cents beginning September F. Presently the rate is 18 cents, per mile'. Superintendent of • business pointed out it is the, first increase in four years. Several trustees had asked - to have their names stand for attending • the second World Congress in Education, in Vancouver in June at the last board meeting. Only three. are permitted to attend. with all expenses paid according to the board Following a vote, by the trustees, the three chosen to go are John 0' Drowsky of St. ••• Marys, Tim McDonnell of Gadshill and Keith Montgomery of Wingham. Mickey Vere of Strafford was named an alternate. presentation by the Physical. Education and Health Curriculum Conimit- +ee was made at the meeting. Classified Ads paYt divid- ends. • anada announces w 5/80 This Chrysler option protects, you for 5 years or 80,000 km on the Two years longer than any other North American car maker's Piai You begin to appreciate what. Chrysler engineering means when you compare how long we're willing to stand behind the most complex, and costly, engineering system in the entire car or Mick: the power train. The Chrysler 'Canada 5(80 Protection Plan for 5 years or 86,000 km, whichever comes,, first', gives you longer coverage than GM or Pord by two full years, " PROMPON 'SPECIAL NONCHARO .1 ODUCTORY OFFER. From now until May 10,1979, the optional Chrysler 5/80 `.' Wilt be., youts at no e,xtra, cos when' you buy Or lease a new1979 DodgeAspen or Diplomat PlyrriWth, Valait or CaravelleChrysier LeBaron, tank Dodge. Von or 2 -.Wheel Drive Domestic, pickup: • „. looms" IA111,•••wm, iUYOttttAft '• • • • 44111tYSLPi titak5 Seaforth • V